Abstract: Alternative equilibrium modifiers for use with aldoxime extractants, such as hydroxyl aryl aldoxime extractants, employed in the process for extraction of metal values, particularly copper values, in the extraction from aqueous solutions, in which the extractant and modifiers are employed in an organic solvent phase, the solvent being a water insoluble, water immiscible hydrocarbon solvent, such as a kerosene.

Abstract: An improved process for the extraction of a metal from an aqueous ammoniacal solution comprising: (i) contacting the aqueous ammoniacal solution with an extraction reagent comprised of a water insoluble extractant for the metal, to provide an organic phase, now containing metal values, and an aqueous phase from which metal values have been extracted; (ii) contacting the organic phase with an aqueous stripping solution to provide an aqueous strip phase, now containing metal values, and an organic phase from which metal values have been stripped; and (iii) recovering the metal values from the aqueous stripping solution; the improvement wherein (a) the extraction reagent contains an ammonia antagonist having only hydrogen bond acceptor properties; (b) the stripping solution is an aqueous highly acidic solution; and (c) the organic phase is washed with a weakly acidic aqueous solution prior to stripping with the highly acidic aqueous stripping solution.

Abstract: The process of recovering precious metals from ores containing precious metals, such as gold and silver, from an aqueous ammoniacal thiosulfate leach solution to provide a significant practical and economical process for the recovery of gold or silver. After leaching of the ore with an aqueous ammoniacal thiosulfate solution, the leach solution is contacted with a precious metal extraction reagent to extract the precious metal values from the leach solution, after which the precious metal values are stripped from the extraction reagent to form a concentrated solution of the precious metal values from which the precious metals may be recovered by conventional methods such as electrolysis. The extraction reagents are those having guanidyl functionality or a quaternary amine functionality mixed with a weak organic acid such as a phenol. In the process, novel thiosulfate complexes of the precious metals are formed with the quanidyl or the quaternary amine extractants.

Abstract: A process for extracting and recovering copper from an aqueous solution containing copper values comprising: (a) contacting the aqueous copper bearing solution with an organic phase comprising a water insoluble and water immiscible solvent solution of an extraction reagent formulation to extract at least a portion of the copper values into the organic phase; (b) separating the resultant copper pregnant organic phase from the copper baren aqueous phase; and (c) recovering the copper values from the copper pregnant organic phase; wherein the extraction reagent formulation comprise an (i) oxime extractant and (ii) an equilibrium modifier in which the modifier is a linear diester or polyester of an unbranched dicarboxylic acid and an unbranched alcohol.

Abstract: Novel modified and improved beta-diketones and their use in the extraction of copper from aqueous ammoniacal solutions containing copper values, resulting from commercial processes, including, but not limited to, leaching of copper containing ores, such as sulfidic ores, or concentrates resulting from flotation of such sulfidic ores. The novel diketones are those highly sterically hindered, which may be represented by the formula I or II: ##STR1## The preferred beta-diketones of Formula [II] are selected from the group consisting of neo-alkyl beta-diketones, such as, 1-phenyl-3-neoalkyl-1,3 propanedione in which the neoalkyl group is selected from neohexyl, neoheptyl, neooctyl, neononyl, or neodecyl.

Abstract: A stable, pumpable, flowable and pourable surfactant concentrate, and a method of preparation thereof, said concentrate consisting essentially of (a) at least one anionic or amphoteric surfactant, (b) at least one alkylpolyglycoside surfactant, (c) a viscosity-adjusting agent selected from the group consisting of inorganic and organic electrolytes and (d) water. The concentrate is economically shippable and easily handleable by the formulator for dilution with water, without gelation difficulties, for a variety of end-use applications with adjuvants usually associated with the desired end-use.

Abstract: Amide compositions useful for softening textile materials, such as fabrics. A concentrate composed of the amide softener and an alkylpolyglycoside is diluted to provide a softening solution of low viscosity stable over extended periods, which on application to a fabric provide improved hand (softeners) and scorch resistance.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of nickel from a nickel containing ore in which the ore, particularly a laterite ore, is initially leached with an aqueous acid solution, after which the nickel is precipitated as nickel hydroxide by adding a hydroxide to the aqueous acid leach solution containing the nickel, followed by a re-leaching of the nickel with an aqueous ammoniacal solution and recovery of the nickel by a solvent extraction of the nickel from the aqueous ammoniacal solution with an organic phase of a water insoluble oxime extractant dissolved in a water-immiscible hydrocarbon solvent and the nickel recovered by electrowinning the nickel from the aqueous acid stripping solution employed to strip the nickel from the organic phase.

Abstract: Toxic cyanide and anionic metal species are removed from aqueous alkaline solutions by contacting the aqueous alkaline solutions with an extractant compound which is capable of being protonated at a pH of 9 or above. Whereby the anionic metal species is extracted from the aqueous alkaline solution, subsequently stripping the metal values from the extractant and recovering the metal species, preferably by electrowinning. The process is useful in a flotation process in which a recycled aqueous process stream is employed in that the toxic cyanide ion and anionic metal species are removed prior to recycling of the aqueous process stream for flotation.

Abstract: A process for preparing high detergency or surfactant alkyl polyglycoside compositions and a purified alkyl monoglycoside and to compositions employing the polyglycosides for various end use applications. The process involves removal of a substantial portion of the monoglycoside present in a reaction product mixture containing alkyl polyglycosides resulting from the reaction of an alcohol and saccharide at elevated temperatures in the presence of an acid catalyst. Separation of the monoglycoside from the reaction product mixture may be carried out by molecular distillation.

Abstract: The process of recovering precious metals from ores containing precious metals, such as gold and silver, from an aqueous ammoniacal thiosulfate leach solution to provide a significant practical and economical process for the recovery of gold or silver is disclosed. After leaching of the ore with an aqueous ammoniacal thiosulfate solution, the leach solution is contacted with a precious metal extraction reagent to extract the precious metal values from the leach solution, after which the precious metal values are stripped from the extraction reagent to form a concentrated solution of the precious metal values from which the precious metals may be recovered by conventional methods such as electrolysis. The extraction reagents are those having guanidyl functionality or a quaternary amine functionality mixed with a weak organic acid such as a phenol.In the process, novel thiosulfate complexes of the precious metals are formed with the quanidyl or the quaternary amine extractants.

Abstract: An improvement in the process of recovery of copper from aqueous ammoniacal solutions containing copper values in which the copper values are extracted from the aqueous ammoniacal solution by an organic phase comprised of a diketone copper extractant dissolved in a water-immiscible organic hydrocarbon solvent, by improving the stripping of the copper from the organic extractant phase, in which the improved stripping results from the incorporation into, or addition to the diketone extractant phase of a catalytic amount of an hydroxy aryl oxime. Also an improved extractant composition is provided comprised of the mixture of a diketone copper extractant and a catalytic amount (preferably about 0.5 to about 5 mole % in relation to the diketone) of an hydroxy aryl oxime, such as nonyl or dodecyl salicylaldoxime.

Abstract: Recovery of gold from alkaline cyanide leach solutions using ion exchange adsorbents, comprising (a) contacting the cyanide leach solution containing the gold with an extraction reagent comprised of a solid adsorbent carrying an organic base functionality of a compound having a pK.sub.a between about 9-14, such as a guanidyl functionality, to adsorb gold and eluting the adsorbed gold from the solid adsorbent with an aqueous alkaline eluant solution having a pH above about 12 and containing an alkali metal salt of an aromatic or aliphatic carboxylic acid having from about 4-14 carbon atoms, the eluant solution having incorprated therein from about 0.001 moles to about 0.2 moles per liter of an alkali metal cyanide salt. The solid adsorbent containing the aurocyanide complex may be contacted with a concentrated aqueous solution of a zinc tetracyanide salt whereby the aurocyanide complex is displaced with a zinc tetracyanide complex before treatment with the eluant solution.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of extractant from the aqueous effluent continuously exiting from a solvent extraction circuit, in which the effluent is contacted with the same water-immiscible diluent being used in the circuit as solvent for the extractant, such that the extractant transfers from the aqueous effluent phase to the diluent phase. The diluent phase, now enriched in extractant, is separated from the aqueous effluent, now depleted in extractant. The separated diluent phase can then be recontacted with effluent or may be combined with the organic phase of the solvent extraction circuit.

Abstract: A process for preparing high detergency or surfactant alkyl polyglycoside compositions and a purified alkyl monoglycoside and to compositions employing the polyglycosides for various end use applications. The process involves removal of a substantial portion of the monoglycoside present in a reaction product mixture containing alkyl polyglycosides resulting from the reaction of an alcohol and saccharide at elevated temperatures in the presence of an acid catalyst. Separation of the monoglycoside from the reaction product mixture may be carried out by molecular distillation.

Abstract: A process for removing and recovering ammonia from the organic extraction phase in a metal liquid-liquid extraction process in which at least one ammoniacal aqueous solution (either a leach feed solution containing the metal to be extracted or an aqueous stripping solution employed to strip the metal values from the organic phase) is contacted with the organic phase which comprises a water insoluble, water immiscible hydrocarbon solvent solution of a water insoluble organic extractant for the metal.

Abstract: Heavy metals are efficiently removed from contaminated soil by a process which comprises leaching or washing the soil with a mild leachant solution comprised of an aqueous solution of an acid and a salt. Heavy metals are also efficiently removed from paint chips by washing with an aqueous acid. The heavy metals are recovered from the leachant be cementation.

Abstract: Heavy metals are efficiently removed from contaminated soil by a process which comprises leaching or washing the soil with a mild leachant solution. The leachant solution is comprised of an aqueous solution of an acid and a salt. The anion of the acid forms a water-soluble salt with the heavy metals which contaminate the soil. The salt component is comprised of at least one alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or an ammonium salt having one or more anions which also form a water-soluble salt with the heavy metals leached from the contaminated soil.

Abstract: An improved alkylpolyglycoside surfactant composition, and method of preparing same, by selecting an average chain length of the alkyl moiety of the composition and mixing two or more of at least binary components having an average alkyl chain lengths such that when mixed, the amounts thereof are effective to provide the predetermined, selected average alkyl moiety of the surfactant composition. The improved alkylpolyglycoside composition is used in a variety of end-use applications, including hard surface cleaners, laundry detergents, and personal care products, such as shampoos, soaps, facial cleansers, foam baths, toothpaste, mouthwashes, antiperspirants and the like.

Abstract: An improved process is described for the recovery of copper from an aqueous feed solution using solvent extraction and electrowinning in which the electrowinning is conducted in a first step wherein the electrolyte is flowing perpendicular to the cathode surface without auxiliary mixing of the electrolyte between electrodes, and a second step wherein the electrolyte is flowing parallel to the cathode surface. In a second embodiment, solvent extraction of copper and solvent extraction of acid are conducted in alternate steps to allow more complete recovery of copper.